John h



(No Model.)

J. H. BROWN.

DISINTBGRATING PIBROUS MATERIAL.

Patented July 12, 1887.

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ATTORNEY u PETERS, Phnlo-Lxlhognphcr. Whhinglon. n. c.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BROXVN, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

DISINTEGRATING FIBROUS MATERIAL.

fi-PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,557, dated July12, 188'7.

Application filed March 19, 1887. Serial No. QBLSIIQ. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, in the county ot'-New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DisintegratingFibrous Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the process of disintegrating ramie, pita,yucca, and other fibrous plants or materials for textile or other usesby separating the glutinous and other foreign matter from the fiber; andit consists,

. essentially, in exposing the fibrous material to the action of anelectrical current, as hereinalter more particularly described.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of an apparatusadapted to be used in carrying out my invention.

Theletter A indicates a digester, so called, of cylindrical or othersuitable shape, into which the leaves, stalks, and other parts of theplants or material to be treated are to be introduced, as through a manhole, B, and discharged, as through a spout, O, provision being madealso for the introduction and discharge of a suitable treating-liquid,as through feed-pipes D and waste pipes E, as more fully described in aseparate application for Letters Patent filed herewith.

F G indicate wires which are connected to the digester A and terminatewithin the chamber formed thereby, one being connected to the positiveand the other to the negative pole of a galvanic battery or other sourceof elec trieity in such a manner that an electrical current may beestablished at will through and from one to the other of the electrodesformed by the terminals of said wires. The connection of the wires F Gwith the battery or other source of electricity and the making orbreaking of the circuit maybe effected in any known manner, and adetailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.

In carrying out my invention the fibrous material is first treated witha suitable liquid or gas, and then washed with water to free it of anyacid that may be present when the electrical current is brought intoaction-namely, at intervals-and in the passage of said current from oneto the other of the electrodes it thoroughly permeates the mass ofmaterial, with the effect of loosening any glutinous or other foreignmatter that may adhere to the fiber, thereby producing a rapid andverythorough disintegrating operation.

.ll' desirable, the fibrous material may be removed from the digestcr Ato another or plain vessel-as of wood-whieh may be opened or closed, andtherein exposed to the action of the electrical current, the digesterbeing usually made of boiler-plate or other metal. A suc cessfuloperation may, however, be effected by properly insulating the joints ofthe pipes and other parts connected with the digcster.

Instead of the two wires F G, a single wire may be used and the metallicbody o'lthe digester utilized as a conductor for the electrical current.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The withindescribed process of disintegrating fibrous material, whichconsists in eX- posing the material to the action of an electricalcurrent, substantially as herein described.

2. The within-described process of disintegrating fibrous material,whiehconsists in first treating the material with a suitable liquid, thenwashing the same, and finally exposing stantially as herein described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 15th day otMarch, A. D. 1887.

JOHN H. BRO\VN.

Vi tnesses:

Grills. I. CORNELL, Grills. WArILERs.

it to the action of an electrical current, suh-.

